DA files charges over Limpopo contracts

Johannesburg - The DA has filed criminal charges against the Limpopo Human Settlements Department in connection with R900 million housing contracts which have allegedly been awarded irregularly.

The party’s Limpopo spokeswoman on local government, Desiree van der Walt, said she laid a corruption complaint with the Hawks in Polokwane following The Star’s exposé.

The move came as Limpopo Human Settlements MEC Clifford Motsepe again maintained his department’s innocence, telling a media briefing on Tuesday that the allegations of tender irregularities were an “insult” and part of a “smear campaign against the political leadership of the province”.

The Star reported this week that the department had allegedly tampered with the tender documents of some of the bidders to eliminate them from the race for the benefit of Julius Malema’s allies and benefactors.

The department had also allegedly increased the required bank guarantee from R30 000 to R100 000 and advertised the contracts only in the government tender bulletin.

The multimillion-rand contracts were awarded to certain companies even though the department’s own bid adjudication committee had recommended their exclusion for reasons ranging from poor performance and failure to submit financial statements, to a lack of proven construction experience.

Limpopo police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi confirmed that criminal charges have been laid against the department.